Assassin's Creed II is one of the great games of its generation. Florence, Venice, Rome with Ezio Auditore in the Italian Renaissance. Rich narrative, exhilarating freedom of movement, total perfection of AC1.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player18+
Description
Direct sequel starring Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a young Florentine noble launching a vendetta against the Templars after his family's execution. Published by Ubisoft, released in 2009 across Europe, North America, Asia, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom. Florence, Venice, San Gimignano and Tuscany to explore, dual hidden blades, Leonardo's flying machines, Monteriggioni villa economy to develop.
Assassin's Creed II review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Historical recreations of astonishing breadth, from the rooftops of Florence to the sunlit Caribbean: each era lives again with a dizzying care for detail. The architectural coherence and worked-over light turn History into a sumptuous playground. This visual ambition, vast and polished, defines the historical open world.
Signed by Jesper Kyd, the music blends ambient pads, ethereal choirs and Renaissance sonorities to dress Ezio's Italy. The sublime "Ezio's Family", of a poignant melancholy, became an instant anthem. This refined, atmospheric sonic identity ranks among the finest of the saga.
Witness to the murder of his family, a young Renaissance Florentine embraces the way of the Assassins to slake his revenge. Blending real history, Templar conspiracy and apprenticeship, the tale lends its hero a striking humanity. This vibrant fresco, carried by an unforgettable Ezio, redefined the narrative ambition of the series.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Scaling the rooftops of Florence and Venice, planning your assassinations and diving into a gripping plot at the heart of the Renaissance: this entry lays the foundations of a formula turned cult. The fluidity of the parkour and the joy of free movement grab you from the very first steps. Rich, immersive and superbly made, a peak of historical open-world adventure.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Scaling cathedrals and rooftops to unlock viewpoints, melting into the crowd, then striking with a hidden blade sets up a loop of urban freedom that always nudges toward the next objective. Contracts, chests and feathers to collect keep the exploration rolling. A few tailing missions wear thin, but the elegance of the parkour and the density of Renaissance Italy hold you for the long haul.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
A complete reinvention of the formula in the Italian Renaissance, this second entry unfolds Florence, Venice and the Tuscan countryside packed with activities. Between assassin-tomb puzzles, scattered feathers, a villa to renovate and side contracts, Ezio's thread fills out with countless detours. That controlled density made it a peak of the saga, still praised today.
Often held as the best of the entire saga, the entry that tipped Assassin's Creed into phenomenon status with its hero Ezio and Italian Renaissance. Sold in astronomical numbers, it stays everywhere and cheap. Its desirability is purely heritage-based, that of a founding classic whose price stays flat for lack of any scarcity.
Is Assassin's Creed II still worth playing in 2026?
Assassin's Creed II is the moment the saga found its identity, and it still replays today with undimmed pleasure. Florence, Venice and the Tuscan countryside form a Renaissance backdrop of rare vitality, carried by the rise of Ezio Auditore, one of gaming's best-written heroes. The freedom of movement and the variety of missions erased the monotony of the first game. A few mechanics show their age, but the narrative momentum and the richness of the world remain exemplary. A classic that still amply rewards the visit.
